Wichita eagle., 1887-12-11
GERMANY.

ICopvright 1885, by the New York Associat ed Press.
BERLIN. Dee 10.-The preamble of the
new German military service bill was is
sued tonight. 1t abounds in plain speak
ing regarding the armies which Germany
must calculate upon facing on the field of
battle 1t sets forth that the German army
is composed of men whose liability to
serve in the active army extends over
twelve years. whereas, in the Russian army
the period is fifteen years and i'll the French
twenty. Besides this, it must be consid-
ed, SAYS the preamble that the geograp-
zeal position of Germany exposes her to at
tacks by powerful armies on two frontiers
simultaneously. In the face of
this threatening danger there
still lacks a firm foundation
for the assured existence and develop
lnents of Germany. Her security is in her
strength. and this should be greater than
it is at present. An end must be put TO
the existing uncomfortable condition OF
things. The government, therefore, eX
poets that 20 secure the passage Of the
present bin it will he sufficient to appeal
to the patriotism of the German people.
who desire that the father land. after be
ing united, shall be preserved in it's integ-
rity. BY the bill before the reichstag the
six yearly classes formerly composing
part OF the landsturm are placed in imme
date readiness for any dangerous emer-
gency. The current expenditures neccs-
STATED by the increased cost of the
administration in augmenting the
number of men who have to
answer roll call will Dot exceed l50.000
marks The homecoming expenditures
incurred in providing new papers for the
men or in modifying old papers, is est
mated at 100000 marks and for the navy,
to meet the cost of new arms, uniforms
and equipments, further measures are in
contemplation. The whole tone of this Re
markabe manifesto suggests that the re-
cent outburSt of the official press over the
missing of Russian troops on the frontier
had something OF fictitious character.
Prince Bismarck is known TO have greatly
hurt the chances for the immediate passage
of the landstum bill. which the military
press now estimates will add 100000 men
to the effective force in the event of a mob
iliZation. So the press campaign recalling
the similar agitation preceding the Septen-
ate vote was melted and will be sustained
until the bill passes. Although the gov
ernment'S motive in fOmenting a Russian
scare * palpable. there are abundant rea-
sons why the country should be kept ON
the concentration of Russian troops on the
frontier at the present time are incorrect,
but the movements recorded i'll these dis
patches three months ago resulted in plac-
ing on the AustrO-German frontier 1872
infantry battallions. 9S- squares of cavalry
and 81 batteries of artillery Those move
ments We're a part OF a long concerted
plan of the Russian war of
flee. While progressing they were
not hold aS immediate monaco 81 bar to
Germany or to Austria, but were consider
ed to be necessitated by the special Difficult
ties of Russian nobiliziug No fear exists
in either Berlin or Vienna official circles
that Russia viii venture upon aggressive
movement. The present alarm. besides
assisting the passage OF the military bill,
Will restrain the Russian war party. The
car still oscillates between the party of
peace and the panslaviSts. and The present
agitation will influence him to understand
the danger he runs in listening to unellors
hostile to Germany and Russia.